Can seniors on Social Security still get EDD benefits if laid off from full-time job?

Your supervisor is WRONG! You absolutely CAN receive both Social Security retirement benefits AND unemployment insurance at the same time in California. I went through this exact situation last year. The key factors are: 1. You were working at a W-2 job where you paid into UI 2. You were laid off through no fault of your own 3. You're still able and available for work Being on Social Security doesn't disqualify you at all. The only thing to know is that you must report your Social Security income when you certify for benefits every two weeks. But Social Security is NOT deducted from your weekly benefit amount in California (some other states do reduce UI benefits, but not CA). File your claim ASAP - you have nothing to lose by applying!

My mom (67) just went thru this in January!!! They laid her off after 12 years and she got both SS and unemployment no problem. Her boss also told her she couldn't get both which is TOTALLY FALSE. File your claim right away because it takes forever to process these days. She had to wait almost 5 weeks to see her first payment.

Just to provide some additional clarity here - the confusion often happens because some income sources DO reduce unemployment benefits, but Social Security retirement benefits are not one of them in California. When you file your claim, you'll need: 1. Your employment history for the past 18 months 2. Your Social Security Number 3. Your citizenship/work authorization status 4. Your last employer's information During bi-weekly certification, you'll need to report your Social Security income, but it won't reduce your weekly benefit amount (WBA). Your WBA will be calculated based on your highest-earning quarter in the base period (typically the 12-month period before your last quarter of work). One important note: You must still be able and available for full-time work to qualify for unemployment benefits. So when certifying, make sure you indicate you're able and looking for work.

im getting so mad reading this!! why do employers LIE about this stuff??? my dad's boss told him the exact same thing when he got laid off at 66. its like they try to discourage people from claiming benefits they DESERVE after paying into the system forever!!!!

When you certify make sure you're doing your work search activities each week. They're really strict about this now. You need to apply to jobs or do networking or job training and document it all.

I was in your exact situation last year and couldn't get through to EDD for weeks to ask questions about my claim. Finally found a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes instead of spending days redialing. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Totally worth it because the EDD rep was able to explain exactly how my Social Security affected my claim (it didn't) and fixed an issue that was holding up my payments. Just sharing since the phone situation with EDD is still awful from what I hear.

just be carful when u certify dont make mistakes or they put u on pending forever and good luck reaching anyone lol

Sorry to jump in with something slightly off-topic, but does anyone know if the same rules apply for SSDI (disability) rather than regular Social Security retirement? My sister is in a similar situation but with disability benefits.

To answer your question about work search requirements - you typically need to perform at least 3 work search activities each week. These can include: - Applying for jobs - Attending job interviews - Registering with CalJOBS - Networking with professional contacts - Attending job fairs or workshops Keep a detailed log of all these activities including dates, companies, contact information, and results. EDD can audit your work search efforts at any time, and inadequate documentation could result in benefit disqualification. Also, since you're over 65, make sure you're looking for suitable work similar to your previous position. You don't have to accept jobs that are substantially different from your recent work experience.

One other thing I forgot to mention!!! When my mom applied they asked all these questions about her pension too (which she doesn't have) but they told her some pensions DO affect your unemployment amount while Social Security doesn't. Just in case you have a pension too.

Hey Elijah! I'm 71 and went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when my retail job let me go after 8 years. Your supervisor is completely wrong - you can absolutely get both! I've been collecting Social Security for 6 years and had no issues getting approved for unemployment. Just make sure when you file online that you answer all the questions honestly about your Social Security income. The system will walk you through everything step by step. One thing I learned the hard way - start your job search documentation right away even before your first certification. I keep a simple notebook with company names, dates I applied, and any responses I got. The hardest part honestly was just getting through the initial phone verification (took me 3 tries over 2 weeks) but once that was done, everything went smoothly. Don't let them discourage you - you paid into this system and you deserve these benefits! File tonight like others said, because every day you wait is money lost.

I'm so glad you found this community and got the right information! Your supervisor was definitely wrong, and it's frustrating how many employers spread this misinformation. I'm 63 and currently working while collecting Social Security, so I've been following threads like this in case I ever need to file for unemployment myself. One small tip I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you do file your claim online, have your Social Security award letter handy. Sometimes EDD asks for documentation about other income sources during the application process, and having that letter with the exact monthly amount can speed things up. You can get a copy from your Social Security online account at ssa.gov if you don't have the paper version. Also, don't be discouraged if the job search feels overwhelming at first. There are actually quite a few employers who value experienced workers, especially in distribution and warehouse work where reliability matters. Good luck with everything, and keep us posted on how your claim goes!

Just wanted to add some encouragement here! I'm a benefits counselor who works with seniors, and I see this confusion ALL the time. Employers often don't understand the rules, and unfortunately many older workers miss out on benefits they're entitled to because of this misinformation. You're absolutely doing the right thing by filing - Social Security retirement benefits do NOT disqualify you from unemployment insurance in California. The two programs serve different purposes and you've earned both by paying into the systems. A couple of practical tips for your application: - File online at edd.ca.gov if possible, it's usually faster than phone or mail - Have your last 18 months of employment history ready (dates, wages, employer info) - When they ask about other income, be sure to report your monthly Social Security amount The most common mistake I see people make is not following through on work search requirements. Since you mentioned needing income quickly, make sure you understand that you need to actively look for work and document it. But given your experience in distribution, you should have good prospects. Don't let anyone tell you that you don't deserve these benefits - you paid into UI through your paychecks and you were laid off through no fault of your own. That's exactly what unemployment insurance is for!

I'm a former EDD caseworker and I have to jump in here because this misinformation from employers drives me absolutely crazy! Your supervisor was 100% WRONG, and unfortunately this happens way too often. Here's the deal: Social Security retirement benefits and unemployment insurance are completely separate programs. You can absolutely collect both simultaneously in California. The ONLY thing that matters for UI eligibility is: 1. You worked in covered employment (which you did) 2. You earned enough wages during your base period (sounds like you did working 40hrs/week) 3. You were separated through no fault of your own (layoff qualifies) 4. You're able and available for work That's it! Your age and Social Security status are irrelevant to UI eligibility. When I worked at EDD, I saw so many seniors miss out on thousands in benefits because their employers told them this exact same lie. Don't let them rob you of money you've EARNED by paying UI taxes on every single paycheck. File your claim tonight at edd.ca.gov - you're leaving money on the table for every day you wait. And please, PLEASE report back how it goes so other seniors can see that this works!